Richards skates, says he’s unsure of trade situation

Richards, who has missed the past six games with concussion-like symptoms, said he will see how his body reacts to the heavy workout and will see how he feels this afternoon, but added that he has been feeling better every day. Trying to read him, I don’t think he will be on the plane to Phoenix this afternoon (if he hasn’t been traded), but I do think he could play on this four-game road trip.

Richards would not call it a concussion, but said of his feeling after being hit in the jaw against Columbus Feb. 13:

“I’ve been day to day, really. The way it happened, there’s been nothing anybody has told me you’re not allowed to do,” Richards said. “Unfortunately, it lingered longer than I thought. For two or three days, I had a sore jaw and I wasn’t sure if the headaches were from the jaw or the actual head injury. I haven’t had any really terrible days, but the awareness is there right now and I’ve talked to people like Sid (Sidney Crosby) and people who have had them, and the Stars have too. They’ve been pushing the same things I’ve been pushing, and we’re on the same page with that. It’s unfortunate, because I want to be out there and that would be a perfect world, but health is more important.”

As for the trade talk, Richards said that he is in control of his destiny and that he will consider whatever GM Joe Nieuwendyk proposes, but that he does not believe in providing a list of teams. He said he will take whatever proposal is put before him and consider it on a case by case basis.

But he added: “No one has talked to me yet.”

Here’s Richards on whether he wants to stay or not:

“I’m a Dallas Star. These are my friends; these are my teammates. There’s no one on my side demanding anything or trying to do anything. I do understand, though, that Joe needs to do a job. He’s got to look out for what’s best for the franchise. That’s the business we’re in and it happens all the time. There’s no hard feelings. It still doesn’t mean I’ll waive my no-trade, but I told them all along that if he has something, I’ll look at it and try to make a decision on it.”

When asked if he has turned down an offer from the Stars, he said (I think he means owner when he says GM, but it does speak to the uncertainty of what could happen with a new owner):

“There’s nothing that has gained nay traction or would change my stance on what we’ve said all along. Until I kind of see what’s going on here and who’s going to be the GM, who’s going to be running the team. There are a lot of questions. I have the right in the situation I’m in to ask those questions and I’m going to keep asking them. There’s no change here. I know people want to read more into it and they think there’s more to it, but there’s not. It’s gone this long and we’re this close to the summer. So seeing who’s going to be in charge of this makes sense to me in what I want to do.”

As for what might happen this afternoon, he said:

“Everything is speculation. Until I get offered something in front of me, I’m not going to sit here and talk about it. I’m a Dallas Star. There’s no need to speculate on that. If you’re asking me and it’s the day before July 1 and I’m a free agent, maybe it could be answered. But I’m under contract with the Stars and that’s where I plan on being and if something changes, I’ll look at it.”

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk is on media lockdown right now and has not answered messages or texts in the past day or so, so we’ll wait to see what might happen.